Glaucoma has a complex etiology and many treatment types are used to help prevent the progression of the eye. The most common treatment is eye medication. Topical alpha blockers decrease the intraocular pressure (IOP).
Glaucoma, open-angle is a health condition that impedes vision and reduces quality of life; approximately one in 10 adults may be affected. Glaucoma, open-angle occurs when an eye or optic nerve has increased pressure which causes damage to the optic nerve, nerve fiber and the retina. The retina's function has been compromised by which causes a decrease in the person's ability to detect things correctly, perceive objects and the ability to distinguish colors. Glaucoma, open-angle is a condition that may not cause serious issues, but with a high mortality rate is very devastating for the person who is affected, and may eventually result in blindness.
A careful assessment of the disease at the beginning of treatment can help avoid the need to switch from topical to an inferior glaucoma surgery and prevent recurrent glaucoma. Glaucoma can be eradicated in many patients if the disease isn't too advanced, if they have the right treatment and if they follow the treatment long enough before switching over to surgery. All these things are possible with the right diagnosis.
One in seven people in the U.S. have glaucoma every year; this is less than other regions but highlights the need for nationwide screening programs. When tested with a more targeted questionnaire, nearly two thirds of new cases in this age group are missed. More than a quarter of the newly diagnosed glaucoma patients have glaucoma and are under-diagnosed.
The two most frequent signs of open-angle glaucoma are an increased intraocular pressure and decreased visual acuity. The only reliable way to distinguish between open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension is by checking the visual field in close or near with an automated perimetry such as HRT II or the test for HCT.
Glaucoma, open-angle appears to exist at a threshold of pressure to which the aqueous disc may burst. The degree of IOP rise appears to be related to the rate of pressure change, the extent of increased IOP, and the underlying cause of the increase in IOP.\n
When treating primary open-angle glaucoma, both single and combination treatments are typically used. The combination treatments of topical agents and laser may be one of the most common treatments. In primary angle closure glaucoma, topical agents are used more frequently due to the potential of worsening angle closure.
About one out of two patients can expect [to have a treatment effect on several patient-reported measures after treatment.] However, when the data were pooled across several study arms, over one-half of patients still fail to experience a clinically important treatment benefit on at least one of the measures examined. Although patients experience a significant reduction in pain when treated, it generally does not improve general health status. Even assuming that treatment-related improvement is significant in half of patients, these data suggest that a significant number of patients do not benefit from conventional glaucoma treatment.
Data from a recent study confirms evidence supporting the concept that glaucoma, open angle runs in some families and supports a linkage of this disease to region 5q25.2 (located at chr5q25.2). This chromosomal region was noted to overlap with an earlier reported linkage of optic disc drusiom to chr17q in this region.
No new therapies have been established for the treatment of glaucoma. Recent findings of many studies have supported the use of glaucoma medication for various people. However, many patients do not respond to their treatment, and most patients still use medication inappropriately.
The research is still in the initial stages, but this is where we should start. We are excited for the possibility that some new, effective treatments will be developed in the near future.
Despite advances in the therapeutics used in the management of glaucoma, the treatments that were available are still not the ideal. There are some promising developments in adjuvant and complementary treatments which aim at further reducing the risk of glaucoma progression and increasing the survival rates of patients. There has also been a significant effort to provide more effective treatment options for people living with advanced stages of glaucoma.